Abstract: An information processing unit is adapted to connect a USB device provided on a board to a USB host controller only when it is actually used. Based on a signal regarding an n-th pin received from a USB MEMORYSTICK slot provided in a board, a monitoring program detects whether a MEMORYSTICK has been inserted. The monitoring program causes a hardware bus switch to turn ON if the presence of the MEMORYSTICK is detected, or causes the hardware bus switch to turn OFF if the absence of the MEMORYSTICK is detected. If the hardware bus switch is turned ON, the USB host controller is electrically connected to a USB MEMORYSTICK slot through a USB bus; therefore, the USB host controller detects the USB MEMORYSTICK slot. If the hardware bus switch is turned OFF, the USB host controller is electrically disconnected from the USB MEMORYSTICK slot, so that it does not detect the USB MEMORYSTICK slot.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus having a processor is disclosed. The apparatus includes power monitoring means for monitoring power consumed by the information processing apparatus. The power monitoring means further outputs a power limit request demanding a limit to the power when the power being monitored exceeds a predetermined threshold. The apparatus also includes first setting means for setting a first control for limiting an availability factor of the processor as a limit to the power when the power monitoring means outputs the power limit request; second setting means for setting a second control for limiting the availability factor of the processor as a limit to the power when the power monitoring means outputs the power limit request; first controlling means for executing the first control set by the first setting means; and second controlling means for executing the second control set by the second setting means.

Abstract: Performing power saving control which can be inherited and standardized easily, and which keeps power devices from having to become larger is made possible. A current In flowing through an electrical path is detected as a voltage Vs by a current detection section, and is outputted as a voltage Vout by an amplifying section. When a level corresponding to the voltage Vout exceeds a limit level, a power limit detection section outputs a power limit detection signal. When a controller receives the power limit detection signal via a detection signal holding section, the controller outputs a throttle control command signal. When a chip set receives the throttle control command signal, the chip set initiates throttle control that lowers the clock frequency of a CPU. The present invention may be applied to laptop personal computers.

Abstract: It is a power control unit that can perform preventing a secondary battery from generating heat and preventing power supply from being suddenly shut off. Supply of power from a secondary battery (13) to a system unit (11) is controlled by a power control unit (12). At this time, the power control unit (12) successively monitors a cell temperature of the secondary battery (13), and requests the system unit (11) to switch to a power saving mode when the cell temperature exceeds a predetermined alarming temperature which is preset.

Abstract: An information processing unit is adapted to connect a USB device provided on a board to a USB host controller only when it is actually used. Based on a signal regarding an n-th pin received from a USB Memorystick slot provided in a board, a monitoring program detects whether a Memorystick has been inserted. The monitoring program causes a hardware bus switch to turn ON if the presence of the Memorystick is detected, or causes the hardware bus switch to turn OFF if the absence of the Memorystick is detected. If the hardware bus switch is turned ON, the USB host controller is electrically connected to a USB Memorystick slot through a USB bus; therefore, the USB host controller detects the USB Memorystick slot. If the hardware bus switch is turned OFF, the USB host controller is electrically disconnected from the USB Memorystick slot, so that it does not detect the USB Memorystick slot.

Abstract: A new-type user interface for providing a hotkey is disclosed, which has high operability and which can also be used to provide the hotkey in a conventional manner. In information processing apparatus has a hierarchical structure including a keyboard as one of hardware parts in a bottom layer, a built-in controller as one of hardware parts in a layer higher than the keyboard, and an operating system and an application program as software part in a layer higher than the built-in controller, wherein the operating system and the application program are connected to the built-in controller via a bus. In this information processing apparatus, if an Fn key is pressed and released, information indicating that the Fn key has been pressed and released is supplied to a utility via an SPIC which is logically different from the keyboard controller. In response, a launcher including hotkey menu icons corresponding to additional keys is displayed on a display.

Abstract: A new-type user interface for providing a hotkey is disclosed, which has high operability and which can also be used to provide the hotkey in a conventional manner. In information processing apparatus has a hierarchical structure including a keyboard as one of hardware parts in a bottom layer, a built-in controller as one of hardware parts in a layer higher than the keyboard, and an operating system and an application program as software part in a layer higher than the built-in controller, wherein the operating system and the application program are connected to the built-in controller via a bus. In this information processing apparatus, in response to an input operation on a hotkey using an Fn key, information indicating that the key has been pressed or released is supplied to a utility, which is a higher-level system, via an SPIC which is logically different from the keyboard controller.